Petunia plant named ‘Surf Ikuyoko’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plant named ‘Surf Ikuyoko’, characterized by its upright to spreading and mounding plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; freely flowering habit; long flowering period; large flowers that are bright reddish purple in color; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Petunia x hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘SURF IKUYOKO’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Petuniaplant, botanically known as Petunia x hybrida and hereinafter referredto by the name ‘Surf Ikuyoko’.

The new Petunia plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan. The objective ofthe breeding program is to create new upright to spreading andfreely-branching habit Petunia plants with numerous large attractiveflowers.

The new Petunia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in June, 2016 in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan of a proprietaryselection of Petunia x hybrida identified as code designation Px8284-4,not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietaryselection of Petunia x hybrida identified as code designation PP1, notpatented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Petunia plant wasdiscovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plantwithin the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlledgreenhouse environment in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan in June, 2017.

Asexual reproduction of the new Petunia plant by terminal vegetativecuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Higashiomi, Shiga,Japan since April, 2018 has shown that the unique features of this newPetunia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Petunia have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural conditions. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Surf Ikuyoko’. These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘Surf Ikuyoko’ as a new and distinct Petuniaplant:

-   -   1. Upright to spreading and mounding plant habit.    -   2. Vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely branching habit.    -   4. Freely flowering habit.    -   5. Long flowering period.    -   6. Large flowers that are bright reddish purple in color.    -   7. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of the female parentselection. Plants of the new Petunia differ primarily from plants of thefemale parent selection in flower color as flowers of plants of the newPetunia are bright reddish purple in color whereas flowers of plants ofthe female parent selection are pink in color.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of the male parentselection. Plants of the new Petunia differ primarily from plants of themale parent selection in flower color as flowers of plants of the newPetunia are bright reddish purple in color whereas flowers of plants ofthe male parent selection are pale pink in color. In addition, plants ofthe new Petunia are not as broad as plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Petunia can also be compared to plants of the Petuniax hybrida ‘Sunpapi’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plantsof the new Petunia and ‘Sunpapi’ differ primarily in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia are upright to spreading in plant        habit whereas plants of ‘Sunpapi’ are trailing in habit.    -   2. Plants of the new Petunia are taller than and not as broad as        plants of ‘Sunpapi’.    -   3. Leaves of plants of the new Petunia are darker green in color        than leaves of plants of ‘Sunpapi’.    -   4. Plants of the new Petunia have much larger flowers than        plants of ‘Sunpapi’.    -   5. Plants of the new Petunia and ‘Sunpapi’ differ in flower        color as flowers of plants of the new Petunia are bright reddish        purple in color whereas flowers of plants of ‘Sunpapi’ are        lighter purplish pink in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Petunia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Petunia plant.

The photograph at the top of the sheet (FIG. 1 ) is a side perspectiveview of a typical flowering plant of ‘Surf Ikuyoko’ grown in acontainer.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet (FIG. 2 ) is a close-up viewof a typical flower of ‘Surf Ikuyoko’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown during the early summer in 24-cmcontainers in an outdoor nursery in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan and undercultural practices typical of commercial Petunia production. During theproduction of the plants, day temperatures averaged 23° C. and nighttemperatures averaged 13° C. Plants were six months old when thephotographs and description were taken. In the following description,color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Petunia x hybrida ‘Surf Ikuyoko’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Petunia x            hybrida identified as code designation Px8284-4, not            patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Petunia x            hybrida identified as code designation PP1, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer and winter.—About one week at            temperatures about 15° C. to 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer and            winter.—About three weeks at temperatures about 15° C. to            20° C.        -   Root description.—Fibrous; typically white in color, actual            color of the roots is dependent on substrate composition,            water quality, fertilizer type and formulation, substrate            temperature and physiological age of roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Upright to spreading and            mounding plant habit; freely branching habit with numerous            lateral branches developing per plant; pinching enhances            lateral branch development; vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 27 cm.        -   Plant diameter.—About 50 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Length.—About 23.6 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 3.8 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 1.9 cm.        -   Strength.—Strong, flexible.        -   Aspect.—Upright to outwardly.        -   Texture.—Densely pubescent; rough; viscid.        -   Color.—Close to 144B.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Quantity and arrangement.—About 18 leaves per lateral            branch; alternate, simple.        -   Length.—About 6.1 cm.        -   Width.—About 3.8 cm.        -   Shape.—Elliptic.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Sparsely pubescent,            rough; viscid.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; reticulate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 138A. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to NN137A; venation,            close to 146B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close            to 138A; venation, close to 146C.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 6 mm. Diameter: About 5.4 mm.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Densely pubescent; rough;            viscid. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 143B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Large single-type salverform            flowers arising from upper leaf axils; freely flowering            habit with usually about three to four flowers developing            per lateral branch and about 54 flower buds and flowers per            plant at one time during the flowering season; flowers face            mostly upright to slightly outwardly.        -   Fragrance.—Faintly fragrant, pleasant.        -   Natural flowering season.—Early flowering habit; plants of            the new Petunia initiate and develop flowers about three to            four weeks after planting; long flowering period, flowering            commences naturally during the spring and plants flower            continuously throughout the summer until late autumn in            Japan.        -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about seven to ten            days on the plant; flowers not persistent.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 5.2 cm. Diameter: About 2.1 mm.            Shape: Cylindrical. Color: Immature sepals, close to 145B;            immature petals, close to N79C.        -   Flower diameter.—About 9.3 cm.        -   Flower tube length.—About 3.2 cm.        -   Flower tube diameter, proximally.—About 4.9 mm.        -   Flower tube diameter, distally.—About 1.5 cm.        -   Corolla.—Quantity and arrangement: Five in a single whorl,            fused at the base and opening into a flared trumpet. Petal            length from throat: About 3.75 cm. Petal width: About            4.4 cm. Petal shape: Roughly spatulate. Petal apex:            Cuspidate. Petal margin: Entire; strongly undulate. Petal            texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;            velvety. Throat texture: Smooth, glabrous. Tube texture:            Pubescent, rough. Color: Petal, when opening, upper surface:            Close to NN78A. Petal, when opening, lower surface: Close to            NN74D. Petal, fully opened, upper surface: Close to NN74B;            venation, close to 70A; color becoming closer to 73A with            subsequent development. Petal, fully opened, lower surface:            Close to 73A; venation, close to 73A; color does not change            with subsequent development. Throat: Distally, close to            144C; proximally, close to N148B; venation, close to 183B.            Tube: Distally, close to NN155C; center, close to 155C;            proximally, close to 144A; venation, similar to lamina            colors.        -   Calyx.—Arrangement: One star-shaped calyx tube with five            sepals arranged in a single whorl and fused at the base.            Sepal length: About 1.2 cm. Sepal width: About 5.9 mm. Sepal            shape: Ovate. Sepal apex: Obtuse. Sepal margin: Entire.            Sepal texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;            viscid. Color, upper surface: Close to 138A. Color, lower            surface: Close to 143A.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2.3 cm. Diameter: About 2.7 mm.            Strength: Strong, flexible. Aspect: Upright to outwardly.            Texture: Densely pubescent; viscid. Color: Close to 143A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Five.            Filament length: About 1 cm. Filament color: Close to 145D.            Anther shape: Ellipsoidal. Anther size: About 2 mm by            3.2 mm. Anther color: Close to 8D. Pollen amount: Moderate.            Pollen color: Close to 155A. Pistils: Quantity per flower:            One. Pistil length: About 2.7 cm. Style color: Close to            145C. Stigma shape: Transversely ellipsoidal. Stigma color:            Close to 143A. Ovary color: Close to 145C. Seeds and fruits:            To date, seed and fruit development have not been observed            on plants of the new Petunia.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Petunia have been observed to    have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind and    temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to about 35° C.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Petunia have    not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to    Petunia plants.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Petunia plant named ‘Surf Ikuyoko’as illustrated and described.